Thanks to the growing location-based social network, Foursquare, the City of Minneapolis has a new way to reach very targeted audiences to advance specific business priorities.

Foursquare is a location-based mobile social network that allows users to check-in and share their location and activities with friends, and they can also receive tips related to the locations they are visiting. When a Foursquare user “checks-in” at a location by using a mobile device application, that information is shared with the people the user is connected to on Foursquare (similar to how your friends see your status updates on Facebook).

The City of Minneapolis is focusing its presence on Foursquare on several specific priorities:

Increase the number of pet licenses in the city

Encourage students in Minneapolis schools to apply to the STEP-UP summer jobs program

Promote transparency in government by helping people understand how to watch or track City Council and Committee meetings (in person, online, on their smartphone).

Followers of the City of Minneapolis will be able to view tips about these important City services and programs by checking in at different locations in Minneapolis using one of Foursquare’s mobile applications (available on iPhone, Blackberry, and Android devices). For example:

If you check in at local dog park or certain pet stores, you’ll get a tip about the importance of pet licensing and how to license your pet;

If you check in at a Minneapolis high school, you’ll see a tip that encourages young people to apply to the STEP-UP summer jobs program; and

If you check in at Minneapolis City Hall, you’ll get a tip about how you can watch City Council meetings in room 317 or on Minneapolis 79, your computer or smartphone.

Folks can also see all of the City of Minneapolis’ tips on its Foursquare page. Additional tips will be added regularly at locations throughout the city that are tied to achieving specific objectives.

Since launching its first social media account, the City’s Snow Emergency Facebook page, the City of Minneapolis has become a local government leader in using social media to connect with city residents and stakeholders. More than 26,000 people combined like Minneapolis Snow Emergency and the City of Minneapolis on Facebook. More than 20,000 people follow the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Twitter, and the November 2011 issue of Government Technology magazine said the City of Minneapolis has two of the most followed local government Twitter accounts in the country.